Chapter Thirty
1057 Words
Chapter Thirty
Elara's POV
My suspicion was Adrian. He was practically the bad guy here so there was this feeling that he had a hand in my grandfather's disappearance. What I could not figure out was why?
I nodded, without meeting mum's eyes. "Okay."
She looked taken aback by my sudden quietness, raising a brow at me before turning around to walk away. "Have fun at school but you are still grounded."
Stepping outside of the house and glancing across the street, Jordan's house looked….still. It was completely quiet, no shadow passing by the window. He didn’t step out like he usually did.
Something felt wrong.
On my way to school, there was a slow feeling of sensation crawling behind my neck. It was like eyes were watching me from a distance.
I turned more than once to search corners but there was absolutely nothing.
Arriving at school some minutes later, Maya was already standing by my locker, waiting.
"Well, you look like a complete mess."
"Thanks." The sarcastic reply slipped from my mouth.
She leaned against the locker next to mine with her arms folded and legs crossed. "You think that might have anything to do with Ethan?"
I froze by the mention of Ethan's name. Ever since our fight, he had not come around and it was slowly beginning to dawn on me that I might have just been at fault.
"He is clearly mad at you and I know you know." Maya started.
"I should be angry too you know. He was overreacting the other day." My tone was defensive even though the truth was ringing deep in my ears.
"I do not care what happened, I am forcing a truce today. You two can not graduate and ghost each other. That is so not happening!"
"Fine." A sigh escaped from my lips. "I will talk to him."
"Good!" Maya squealed. She playfully placed her arm over my shoulders. "He is by the courtyard. Let's----"
"Elara.."
That voice, Adrian's voice was back and it made my attention shift from whatever Maya was ranting about to his.
My eyes widened then there was a gentle tap on my shoulder.
"Elara, you good?" Maya blinked at me. "You zoned out for a second there."
Clearing my throat and pushing her hands off my shoulder, I turned to gaze at Maya. "I will meet you in a sec, I just...need to check something."
"El---"
Without hearing Maya's response, I turned around to follow the pull of that sound, of Adrian's voice, down the hallway.
It led me to the music room.
Pushing the creaking door open,
Adrian stood near the piano, his arms crossed and lips curled into his usual mischievous smirk. Standing beside him was a cool and composed version of Gabriel Cross. He was causally leaning against the edge of the teacher's desk, his hands tucked into his pocket like he ruled the world.
My feet froze on the spot as chills ran through my spine.
"What....what are you both doing here alone?" The question fell from my lips even before my mind could process what was going on here.
Gabriel adjusted his posture, he straightened and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. "As you can see Elara, I am just having a word with one of the students." His gaze shifted to Adrian for a brief moment before meeting my eyes. "It is my first time meeting him."
Adrian remained quiet, he did not even blink. Everything felt off. It was like Gabriel Cross knew something, a lot
actually.
"What about you Elara, what are you doing here?" He arched his brows at me, not necessarily in suspicion but more like in curiosity.
Swallowing hastily, I stuttered. "I-um, I just wandered in, wrong door I guess."
His eyes narrowed slightly. As expected, there was a look of doubt written over his face but surprisingly, he did not press further.
"Are you a friend of Adrian's?"
Scoffing and rolling my eyes, I responded hastily. "Not at all."
Gabriel was basically all about interrogations and arguments so my next expectation was an intense interrogative session with him but he surprised me when his next words came through. "Class starts soon, do not be late."
With that, he walked past me. His footsteps slowly fading away.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I let out all the questions that have been swirling in my head since I walked into the room.
"How do you keep summoning me with your voice? Why are you even doing that?"
Adrian gave me a lazy shrug, that dirty smirk never leaving his face. "Who knows? Maybe you are just drawn to me."
"Do not play dumb with me here. You called me, I heard your voice and I know that was not a coincidence."
Adrian took steps closer to the piano and tapped a random note, the sound echoed through the silence. "Call it whatever you want Elara. Maybe you are just more connected to me than you think. More than you are to Jordan."
The sudden feeling of anger rose in me. Gritting my teeth and clenching my fist tight, I raised my voice at him. "Why are you doing all of this? Hurting Jordan's brother? Calling me out? All of that!"
Adrian looked up, his eyes darkened at the mention of Jordan. "I hate him, I hate his guts and I want him gone."
There was so much bitterness in his voice, so much anger and vengeance.
He stared at me for a long while, taking steps closer to me. "You think you know him? You have got some twisted fantasy in your head.
He leaned in, close enough that I felt his breath brush my skin. Let me burst your bubble, Jordan is not who you think he is."
The words hit me like a slap. My heart pounding as Adrian's hands reached for my wrist.
He stood close to me, our faces were only an inch apart and i could feel his warm breath tingling my bare skin.
"He has secrets." His voice echoed in a whisper.
Then all of a sudden, the door creaked open behind me.
My eyes instantly locking gaze with Jordan's.
The tension in the air snapped like a wire being pulled too tight.
Things were about to get really rough.
- Writer
